How sport builds bridges: Historic moment with a shared Korean team
You rarely see moments like this: hardened hockey professionals with their mouths open, eyes sparkling and quietly enjoying the moment. This happened at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang on Friday. The games in South Korea started with fireworks, banging effects, colorful dance performances and lots and lots of music to thunderous applause from the numerous spectators. Right in the middle: the German national ice hockey team.
“That was an unbelievable experience,” enthused Patrick Reimer and added: “You always hear a lot about events like this. But only when you have experienced it yourself will you know what is meant.” Marcus Kink sounded the same tune. The striker said: “That was a pure goosebumps feeling. I would have loved to do another lap.”
In fact, the opening ceremony with all its facets was something spectacular. Preparation started early for participants from all nations. While the invasion was planned for around 20.15:17.15 p.m. local time, the German delegation gathered in front of the German house at 30:XNUMX p.m. to travel together to Pyeongchang, around XNUMX minutes away by bus. Beforehand, as is often the case these days, many selfies were taken. Every moment is captured on camera.
In the stadium itself it took around two hours until things finally started. All the nations arrived one by one and the tent in front of the entry route was filled to capacity. Even South Africa, Turkey and Jamaica were represented. The motley bunch relaxed, sang or simply sat contentedly on the floor in preparation for the big moment.
And it came: Team Germany was one of the first nations to run into the stadium to thunderous applause from the spectators. Small flags waved, cell phones were pulled out and waved vigorously. The journey through the area to the assigned places took around two minutes, where the German national team followed the goings-on inside.
They all became like the other athletes and Fans Witnesses to a historic moment. When the joint team from South Korea and North Korea entered the stadium, the spectators rose from their seats and cheered - completely non-politically - the athletes entering. At this moment at the latest, the last one had too Fans Goose flesh. “That was very emotional,” nodded Christian Ehrhoff and Marcel Goc confirmed: “You can see what bridges sport can build. These athletes are now all fighting on one side, that’s great.”